Burner for outdoor fire heating appliances

ABSTRACT

A burner for a fire heating appliance may include a plenum for holding a quantity of fuel and a burn surface. The burn surface may include an apex wherein the burn surface slopes away from the apex and a plurality of orifices for passing fuel from the plenum therethrough. Each orifice may be surrounded by a sidewall. An outdoor heating appliance may include a base portion, a top portion, and a burner. The burner may be arranged in the top portion and may be configured for releasing fuel to form a flame. The burner may include a top pan portion and a bottom pan portion. The top and bottom pan portions may be arranged to form a plenum for containing and releasing fuel. The top pan portion may include a plurality of orifices having a raised sidewall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/616,096 entitled Burner for Outdoor Fire Heating Appliances, filed on Jan. 11, 2018, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to systems for open flame heating and/or ambiance such as outdoors, spacious area, vented areas and the like. More particularly, the present application relates to a fire table, fire pit, or other fire heat producing appliance with a particular burner. Still more particularly, the present application relates to a burner for a fire table, fire pit, or other fire heating appliance, where the burner provides an improved flame and mitigates, prevents, or reduces entry of water into the burner.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Burners for gas fire places often include tubular elements that extend across a fire area. The tubular elements may convey gas or other fuel across the fire area. The tubular elements may have holes in them to allow the gas to escape, mix with oxygen, and allow the gas to burn to create a flame. The holes may be relatively plain holes that include burned, punched, or drilled holes that merely extend through the wall of the tube and are relatively small. The tubular elements may be straight, curved, or otherwise shaped to create a desired flame formation.

Several issues exist with these types of burners. First, the desired shaped of the flame requires that the tubular elements be curved or shaped to create the shape. This may involve pipe bending techniques and/or the creation of weld joints to create corners or branches to form the shape. While not unduly difficult, this approach can be slow down the production process for custom designs and may reduce the mass production capabilities. Second, the tubular burners may create a relatively inconsistent and awkward structure within the flame area. This inconsistent awkward structure may not be very aesthetically pleasing when the appliance is not turned on. Still further, the awkward tube structure may make it difficult or burdensome to place other decorative features in the fire area. Third, the plain nature of the holes may cause them to be subject to water infiltration into the burners which can cause the tubular members to rust or otherwise deteriorate over time. That is, water landing on the surface of the tubes may find its way through the holes and into the tubes. The holes may have little to no resistance the entry of the water. Fourth, the holes may not provide for much, if any, control over the release of the gas and may create a relatively boring and/or inactive flame.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, a burner for a fire heating appliance may include a plenum for holding a quantity of fuel and a burn surface. The burn surface may include an apex wherein the burn surface slopes away from the apex and a plurality of orifices for passing fuel from the plenum therethrough. Each orifice may be surrounded by a raised sidewall.

In one or more embodiments, an outdoor heating appliance may include a base portion, a top portion, and a burner arranged in the top portion. The burner may be configured for releasing fuel to form a flame. The burner may include a top pan portion and a bottom pan portion. The top and bottom pan portions may be arranged to form a plenum for containing and releasing fuel. The top pan portion may include a plurality of orifices having a raised sidewall.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fire table having a burner of the present disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a burner of the present disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another burner of the present disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another burner of the present disclosure, according to FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a burner of the present disclosure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a close up view of the burner of FIG. 5, according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application, in some embodiments, relates to a burner for an outdoor heating appliance such as a fire table or fire pit having an open flame provided over a surface or area. The burner may be configured to provide a surface through which, or on which, one or more flames may be provided. The burner may provide a plenum containing a fuel or gas. The burner may have a burn surface having a plurality of orifices. The orifices may permit the fuel in the plenum to interact with oxygen in the surrounding air in order to combust to form a flame extending upward from the orifices. Fuel or gas may be forced through, or may escape through the orifices. In some embodiments, the burner may be configured to mitigate water, such as rain water, entering the plenum, pooling on the burner, interfering with the flames, and causing long-term damage. Additionally, the burner may be configured to provide an improved flame color, height, and/or shape. In some embodiments, a burner may have a burn surface with a plurality of orifices through which fuel is released to produce one or more flames. In some embodiments, a raised sidewall may surround each orifice arranged in the burn surface. The raised sidewall may create an internal collar or shaft that is narrow enough to discourage or prevent water from entering the orifice, due to capillary action. That is, the opening size may take advantage of the surface tension of water to avoid entry of water, but if pressures are such to overcome the surface tension and water does enter the orifice, the raised and diverging sidewall (i.e., diverging in the direction of water entry) may create a situation where capillary action causes the water to tend to exit the orifice. Additionally, the raised sidewall may create a sort of jet causing more energetic flow of fuel through the orifice, which may disperse or mix with surrounding air at a higher point of the burner, to produce a more aesthetically desirable flame. In some embodiments, the burn surface may be shaped to direct water away from the orifices and/or to prevent water from pooling on the burn surface. The burn surface may have a sloped or angled shape that directs water toward a channel or spillway formed between a plenum and a side pan portion of the burner.

Turning now to FIG. 1, one example of a fire table 100 having a burner of the present disclosure is shown. As shown, the fire table 100 may generally have a base portion 102, a top portion 104, and a burner 106. The fire table 100 may be configured to provide an open flame emitted from the burner 106 to provide top-level heat and a flame lit ambiance. The fire table 100, including the base portion 102, top portion 104, and burner 106 may each have any suitable shape. The base portion 102 may generally provide a support for the top portion 104 and burner 106. Additionally, the base portion 102 may provide a housing for flame producing components. The top portion 104 may provide a tabletop or ledge on which users may place articles, for example. The top portion 104 may have a shape resembling that of the base portion 102, but may be slightly larger and having a peripheral edge arranged beyond the boundary of the base so as to create an overhang on one or more sides of the fire table 100. In one or more embodiments, the top portion 104 may have a picture frame shape defining an interior edge establishing a fire area of the fire table 100. The interior edge, when viewed from above may be rectangular, round, triangular, or another shape may be provided. The interior edge may be configured to support the burner 106 of the fire table 100. In one or more embodiments, the interior edge of the top portion 104 may include a recess to create a burner supporting lip recessed from a top surface of the top portion. The base portion 102 and top portion 104 are described in more detail in U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/616,054, entitled Outdoor Heating Appliance with Ground Level Heat, and filed Jan. 11, 2018, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The burner 106 may be arranged in the fire area defined by the top portion 104 and may be supported by the top portion. In one or more embodiments, the burner 106 may be configured for resting on the interior edge of the top portion 104. In one or more embodiments, the burner 106 may extend downward from the interior edge to a flame creation portion, across the fire area, and upward to the opposing interior edge. As such, the burner 106 may create a recessed area allowing for glass beads or other decorative flame resistant or flame enhancing materials to be placed in the burner to accentuate the flame experience. The burner 106 may be in fluid communication with a fuel or gas source. The fuel or gas source may include a natural gas source or a propane gas source such as a liquefied petroleum gas tank, for example. The burner 106 may include an inlet port for connection to the gas source allowing gas to flow from the gas source to the burner. In one or more embodiments, a regulator may be provided to control the rate at which gas flows from the source to the burner 106 and one or more mixing elements may be provided to pre-mix the gas with surrounding air before it enters the burner. The burner 106 may include an igniter such as a battery powered sparking ignitor, a flint-based sparking ignitor, or another igniting element may be provided.

The burner 106 may generally have any suitable shape and size. In some embodiments, the burner may be sized and shaped for a particular fire table or fire pit. The burner may have a square, rectangular, round, oval, triangular, or any other suitable perimeter shape.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of a burner 106 of the present disclosure is shown. The burner 106 may be configured to be arranged within a fire table, such as recessed below a table portion or top portion of a fire table. Additionally or alternatively, the burner 106 may be configured to be arranged within a fire pit or other flame producing and/or heating appliance. The burner 106 may additionally be configured to produce a flame for aesthetics and/or heat. The burner 106 may be configured to provide a flame having a particular shape, color, and/or height in some embodiments. The burner 106 may generally have a side pan portion 108, a lower pan portion 110, and a upper pan portion 112.

The side pan portion 108 may be configured to position the burner 106 with respect to a fire table, fire pit, or other component. For example, the side pan portion 108 may have a table mounting lip configured to be positioned over a receiving lip or ledge of a fire table or fire pit, for example. The side pan portion 108 may extend downward at an angle from the table mounting lip to a burner mounting lip. The burner mounting lip may be configured to receive the lower pan portion 110 and/or upper pan portion 112. The downward slope of the side pan portion 108 may generally be configured to recess the burner 106 within a fire table or fire pit. The side pan portion 108 may extend around a perimeter of the burner 102. For example, with respect to a rectangular shaped burner 106 as shown in FIG. 1, the side pan portion 108 may include four sides defining the rectangular burner shape. The burner mounting lip may define an opening configured to receive the lower pan portion 110 and/or upper pan portion 112.

The lower pan portion 110 may provide a reservoir for receiving a fuel. In some embodiments, the lower pan portion 110 and upper pan portion 112 may together provide a fuel or gas plenum. The lower pan portion 110 may generally have a basin portion surrounded by a mounting lip. The mounting lip may be configured to be arranged over the burner mounting lip of the side pan portion 108. From the mounting lip, the lower pan portion 110 may extend downward at an angle to form the basin portion. The basin portion may generally be configured to be nested or arranged within the opening defined by the burner mounting lip of the side pan portion 108. In some embodiments, the basin portion may have dimensions smaller than those of the opening defined by the burner mounting lip of the side pan portion 108. In this way, a gap may be defined between the burner mounting lip of the side pan portion 108 and the basin portion of the lower pan portion 110. The basin portion may have any suitable depth to hold a suitable depth or quantity of fuel or gas.

The upper pan portion 112 may be configured to provide a surface above which one or more flames may be provided. The upper pan portion may generally have a burn surface surrounded by a mounting lip. The mounting lip may be configured to be arranged over the mounting lip of the lower pan portion 110 and/or side pan portion 108. In some embodiments, the mounting lip may have a recess configured to receive the mounting lip of the lower pan portion 110, as shown in FIG. 2. In this way, the mounting lip of the upper pan portion 112 may be configured to wrap around or beneath the mounting lip of the lower pan portion 110.

The burn surface may be configured to be arranged over the basin portion of the lower pan portion 110. The burn surface may have one or more orifices 114 configured to allow fuel or gas to escape or be forced from the plenum to mix with surrounding air, including oxygen, and allowing the fuel or gas to combust to form a flame extending upward from the orifice. Each orifice 114 may have a diameter or width of between approximately 0.5 millimeter and approximately 5 millimeters or between approximately 0.75 millimeters and approximately 4 millimeters or between approximately 1.0 millimeters and approximately 3.0 millimeters or between approximately 1.5 millimeters and 2.5 millimeters or a diameter of approximately 2.29 or 2.3 millimeters may be used. Still other diameters may be provided. The burn surface may have a plurality of orifices 114. The plurality of orifices 114 may be arranged on the burn surface in a desired shape, such as a geometric shape, one or more letters or words, and/or any other suitable shape. FIGS. 3 and 4 show some alternate designs in which a plurality of orifices 114 may be arranged on the burn plate. In this way, the orifices 114 may be used to design a shape of the flames extending from the burn surface.

In some embodiments, each orifice 114 may be raised on the burn surface. That is, each orifice may be surrounded by a raised sidewall 116 extending upward from the burn surface. The raised sidewall 116 may effectively elevate the orifice 114 above the surrounding burn surface. In some embodiments, the raised sidewall 116 may be vertical or substantially vertical at the opening of the orifice 114. That is, the raised sidewall 116 may be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the opening of the orifice 114. The raised sidewall 116 may slope upward from the burn surface with a linear or curved slope in some embodiments. In this way, the raised sidewall 116 may provide an interior funnel through which fuel escaping the plenum may be released. That is, the sloped or curved sidewall 116 may provide a tapered conduit beneath the orifice 114, funneling fuel toward the orifice. In other embodiments, the raised sidewall 116 may extend perpendicular or substantially perpendicular from the burn surface, such that a conduit through the orifice 114 may have a substantially constant shape and size. In contrast to burner surfaces with flat openings, the presence of the sidewall may function to resist the entry of water. That is, the raised sidewall may create an internal collar or shaft allowing the water to bridge across the opening. That is, due to capillary action, the cohesion of the water molecules allows the water to bridge the opening and hang on the collar or shaft without entering the burner and may cause the water to have a tendency to escape.

It is to be appreciated that while a fire pan with a burn surface has been described and the orifices with raised sidewall have been described as positioned thereon, such orifices with raised sidewalls may also be provided on tubes or other gas delivery systems.

In some embodiments, the burn surface may have a sloped or angled shape configured to allow water to drain off of the burn surface. For example, the burn surface may extend upward from the mounting lip to an apex. The apex may be arranged to be vertically above the mounting lip, such that the burn surface may slope or angle downward between the apex and the mounting lip. In some embodiments, the apex may be a linear apex extending along a length of the burn surface. The linear apex may be arranged along a length of the burn surface, and the burn surface may slope or angle away from the linear apex toward the mounting lip. In other embodiments, the apex may be a point, such as a centrally located point of the burn surface. The burn surface may slope down and away from the centrally located point toward the mounting lip. In still other embodiments, the burn surface may have different shaped apex or a plurality of apexes from which the burn surface slopes. In some embodiments, the burn surface may generally slope away from the one or more orifices 114 arranged on the burn surface, or from a portion of the burn surface on which the orifice(s) are arranged. The burn surface may be angled with a constant, linear slope between the apex and the mounting lip in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the burn surface may have a rounded concave or convex shape arcing away from the apex and toward the mounting lip.

As indicated above, the lower pan portion 110 and upper pan portion 112 may together form a plenum for a fuel or gas. In some embodiments, the upper pan portion 112 and lower pan portion 110 may be coupled to the burner mounting lip of the side pan portion 108 via one or more bolts, screws, or other attachment mechanisms. In some embodiments, one or more spacers 118 or washers may be arranged between the burner mounting lip and the lower pan portion 110 and/or upper pan portion 112, as shown in FIG. 2. For example, one or more washers or spacers 118 may be provided around each bolt, screw, or other attachment mechanism coupling the lower pan portion 110 and/or upper pan portion 112 to the side pan portion 108.

Spacing the mounting lips of the upper pan portion 112 and/or lower pan portion 110 away from the side pan portion 108 may create a channel 120 or spillway surrounding the plenum. The channel 120 may be configured to allow water to flow between the side pan portion 108 and the plenum. The channel 120 may additionally direct water beneath or away from the plenum. As may be appreciated from FIGS. 5 and 6, the channel 120 may extend around a perimeter of the plenum.

In use, a burner of the present disclosure may mitigate water or other liquids entering the burner and/or from pooling on a surface of the burner. For example, a burner of the present disclosure may help prevent water from reaching between the upper pan portion and the lower pan portion, and/or from reaching beneath the lower pan portion. In some embodiments, the opening size may resist entry of water due the surface tension of the water. However, the raised sidewall surrounding each orifice may discourage or prevent water from entering the orifice, due to capillary action. That is, water at the orifice may have to overcome a surface tension to enter the burner and, if it does, the raised sidewall with a slightly diverging shape along the direction of water entry may be such that capillary action of the water has a tendency to draw or push the water out of the orifice. Additionally, the slope of the burn surface may cause water to flow off of the burn surface. That is, the slope of the burn surface may cause water to flow toward the mounting lip of the upper pan portion. In some embodiments, the slope of the burn surface may cause water to flow generally away from the one or more orifices arranged on the burn surface, and/or may prevent water from pooling on the burn surface. Moreover, in some embodiments, the burner may provide a channel through which water may flow between the side pan portion and the plenum and/or beneath or away from the burner. In this way, as water, such as rain water for example, is directed away from the orifices and/or down the slope of the burn surface, the water may be directed into the channel defined between the plenum and the side pan portion, such that the water may ultimately be directed away from the plenum. In this way, a burner of the present disclosure may protect the integrity of a flame and/or a fuel substance by directing rain water and/or other water or fluids away from the flame and the fuel.

Additionally, a burner of the present disclosure may provide an improved flame color, height, and/or shape. In particular, the raised sidewall around each orifice may produce a more energetic release of fuel through the orifice, as compared with a burn surface orifice that does not have a raised sidewall. In particular, the raised sidewall may cause fuel molecules to escape through the orifice at a faster rate, which may cause them to get further above the burner surface before more turbulently mixing with the surrounding air. Additionally, the raised sidewall may cause fuel molecules released through the orifice to be more dispersed, and thus to mix more thoroughly with surrounding air during or before combustion. The faster and/or more dispersed release of fuel through the raised orifice may cause a flame having a different shape, color, and/or height, as compared with a flame produced through an orifice that is not raised. For example, the flame may be taller, thicker, and more yellow in color. In general, the flame produced through or over a raised orifice may have more aesthetically desirable features, as compared with a flame produced through or over a non-raised orifice.

As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination, embodiment, or composition that is “substantially free of” or “generally free of” an element may still actually contain such element as long as there is generally no significant effect thereof.

To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

In the foregoing description various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A burner for a fire heating appliance, the burner comprising: a plenum for holding a quantity of fuel; and a burn surface comprising: an apex wherein the burn surface slopes away from the apex; and a plurality of orifices for passing fuel from the plenum therethrough, each orifice surrounded by a raised sidewall.
 2. The burner of claim 1, wherein the raised sidewall is a sloped sidewall, and the sidewall defines a tapered conduit beneath the orifice.
 3. The burner of claim 1, further comprising a side burner portion configured to recess the plenum within the fire heating appliance.
 4. The burner of claim 3, further comprising a spacer arranged between the side burner portion and the plenum and further defining a channel between the side burner portion and the plenum.
 5. The burner of claim 1, wherein the plenum comprises: a lower burner portion comprising a basin; and an upper burner portion comprising the burn surface.
 6. The burner of claim 1, wherein the plurality of orifices are arranged in a selected design.
 7. An outdoor heating appliance comprising, a base portion; a top portion; and a burner arranged in the top portion configured for releasing fuel to form a flame, the burner comprising a top pan portion and a bottom pan portion, the top and bottom pan portions being arranged to form a plenum for containing and releasing fuel, the top pan portion comprising a plurality of orifices having a raised sidewall.
 8. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 7, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate extend relatively broadly lateral to form an expansive burner surface.
 9. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 8, wherein the burner is configured to create a recessed area within the top portion.
 10. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 7, wherein the raised sidewall is a sloped sidewall, and the sidewall defines a tapered conduit beneath the orifice.
 11. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 7, wherein the top pan portion forms a slope for shedding water.
 12. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 11, wherein the burner is arranged on a mounting lip extending around a perimeter of the burner.
 13. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 12, wherein the top pan portion slopes upward from the mounting lip to an apex.
 14. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 13, wherein the apex is arranged generally centrally within the burner.
 15. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 7, further comprising a side burner portion configured to recess the plenum within the fire heating appliance.
 16. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 15, further comprising a spacer arranged between the side burner portion and the plenum and further defining a channel between the side burner portion and the plenum.
 17. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 16, wherein the bottom pan portion comprises a basin and the top pan portion comprises a burn surface.
 18. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 17, wherein the plurality of orifices are arranged in a selected design.
 19. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 7, further comprising a gas source in communication with the plenum.
 20. The outdoor heating appliance of claim 19, further comprising a gas regulator in fluid communication with the plenum and the gas source. 